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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Dusty movie?
From: Mary
2. Re: This Diamond Demo
From: Karen Andrew
3. Re: NY Times magazine interview with Brian
From: Karen Andrew
4. recent readings
From: Phil X Milstein
5. Myddle Class; boring white people
From: Country Paul
6. Re: Jerden
From: Gary Myers
7. Bob Cort
From: Dave Heasman
8. Re: Ripples / John Summers / James Galt
From: Chris Ullman
9. The Paris Sisters pre-Spector Nasties
From: Margaret G. Still
10. Re: PacWest reissues
From: John Berg
11. Covington, Kentucky / Ralph Trotto
From: John Berg
12. Neil Sedaka on Back-up Vocals
From: Margaret G. Still
13. Catholic Girl Groups?
From: Margaret G. Still
14. Bernard "Pretty" Purdie
From: Various
15. Re: John Hartford
From: Steve Harvey
16. Re: Nina & Frederik and Mikki & Griff
From: Frank Murphy
17. Animal variations
From: Steve Harvey
18. Re: Gene Pitney demos
From: Joe Nelson
19. Syreeta Wright, R.I.P.
From: Mick Patrick
20. Appaloosa
From: Christian Steiner
21. he's certainly "Sir George" in my book
From: Phil X Milstein
22. Re: Jerden
From: Rat Pfink
23. Re: the Baroness Nina van Pallandt
From: Phil X Milstein
24. Re: Catholic Girl Groups?
From: James Botticelli
25. Re: Summer & Mercer
From: Karen Andrew
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 05:50:30 -0000
From: Mary
Subject: Dusty movie?
Does anyone know anyting about the planned Dusty Springfield movie
with Joely Richardson? How is it coming along, or is it? How she
will sing Dusty's songs is anyone's guess.
Mary
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 19:40:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen Andrew
Subject: Re: This Diamond Demo
I got to listen to this demo and it's groovy! I'm at work (only way
I can afford the Internet!) so I had to hold the speaker up to my ear.
But, I could hear it well enough to appreciate this version. I like
Jimmy Radcliffe's voice! Thanks Al for posting this song!
Larry Shell wrote:
> Now let's return to discussing the Al Kooper demos! I want to see
> these on CD especially the R&B sides, This Diamond Ring was great!
I second it! These should be out on CDs so everyone can listen to
them, over and over!
Karen
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 19:57:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen Andrew
Subject: Re: NY Times magazine interview with Brian
Steve Grant wrote:
> NY Times magazine interview with Brian:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/04/magazine/04QUESTIONS.html
Man, was that a candid interview or what? It's hard to believe Brian
has never been surfing! What a great little article. Thanks for the
link!
Karen
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 23:51:58 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: recent readings
A single item, mentioned merely in passing in the Billboard Book Of
One-Hit Wonders that I'm still reading, connected three (3) relatively
recent threads. I'll quote directly, and leave others to comment if they
wish. It occurs in author Wayne Jancik's entry on The Knickerbockers'
"Lies":
"Their initial singles, 'Bite, Bit Barracuda' and 'Jerktown,' did not
sell very well. Neither did an oddball and now highly-collectible debut
album, 'Sing And Sync-Along With Lloyd: Lloyd Thaxton Presents The
Knickerbockers.' The LP made use of a gimmick called 'Trick Track': when
any one of five different cuts could be heard. For example, the listener
might hear 'Hully Gully,' 'It's Not Unusual,' or the Knickers' [sic]
fine rendition of 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand'.
"'I don't even have a copy of that thing,' said [guitarist] Beau
[Charles]. '... I never did figure it out; making it is all kind of a
blur, now. Lloyd's niece did vocals on that ... It was a nepotism thing'."
Also spotted in my recent readings, this time in David Thompson's recent
Phil Spector bio "Wall Of Pain," mentions one of our own in a most
intriguing context. Referring to Spector's production of John & Yoko's
"Happy XMas (War Is Over)," Thompson writes:
"With the recording complete, John and Yoko, Spector, the musicians, the
choir, the engineers, even the studio secretaries and watching
journalist Richard Williams, were gathered around the plastic Christmas
tree that John had erected in the studio. Photos were taken, a short
film was shot, and when everybody spontaneously burst into choruses of
'Merry Christmas,' their salutations were recorded and added to the
record."
Anyone willing or able to embarrass the humble R.W. by posting a scan of
that pic sleeve -- preferably with his countenance pointed out in some
way?
--Phil M.
--
Ubi dubium ibi libertas:
"Where there is doubt there is freedom."
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Message: 5
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 00:41:06 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Myddle Class; boring white people
Re: The Myddle Class - http://www.bigmagic.com/pages/blackj/column83.html
- what a story! And the house pictured at the bottom is just a mile or so
from mine!
Austin P., the Preston Epps event sounds really cool! Yoo bad I'm on the
wrong coast....
Dan Hughes:
> So who would Bush and Cheney be if they were rock stars??
Who are the two most boring white people you could think of?
Phil M:
> By the way, anyone know who Nina & Frederik (11-62), a most exotic
> and sophisticated looking duo, were?
One album on Atco, with, as I remember, a less-than-stellar song that got
some airplay called "Lovers Of The World, Unite." (Groovy, baby; I can dig
it.) I remember they were interesting looking, not interesting sounding;
also rather pretentious. (A-ha! Maybe Bush and Cheney would be Nina and
Frederik?)
Country Paul
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 22:32:11 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Jerden
John Berg (re: Jerden releases):
> The second volume was released in 1999, featuring 22 tracks and is
> subtitled "Garage Rock Gems 1963-1967".
John, do you know if that includes the Dynastys ("It's Been A Long,
Long Time" or "Forever And A Day")?
gem
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 15:27:44 +0100
From: Dave Heasman
Subject: Bob Cort
Phil X Milstein:
> By the way, anyone know who Nina & Frederick (11-62), a most exotic
> and sophisticated looking duo, were? Bob Cort & Scramble? Robert
> Peters & The Dancers?
Well you now know about Nina & Frederik. Bob Cort was a skiffler, I'm
surprised to see him in a 1962 book, they'd all faded by then. Robert
Peters? Sorry, no idea.
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 17:33:07 -0000
From: Chris Ullman
Subject: Re: Ripples / John Summers / James Galt
Kingsley Abbott on John Summers:
> Here is the fullest info I have at present -
> Looking In Windows/Don't Fool Yourself - Pye 7n 15918 (8/65)
> Be Sure/Just Say We'll Still Be Friends - Pye 7n 17030 (1/66)
> That's A Magic Moment/One Day - Pye 7n 17081 (4/66)
Thanks Kingsley for the info, I have a friend with access to the UK
sound archives (which in theory has a copy of every record ever
released in the UK) who asks occasionally if I have any requests...
> Another obscure summery voice I particularly liked for Ripples was
> James Galt
Indeed another of the standout tracks I thought on Ripples 8 -
fortunately it's a bit easier to track stuff down by him. What I
found particularly interesting in vol 8 is the way you started
mining the early 70s for material, (although neither Summers or Galt
were) and like Fading Yellow's volume 5, there's some really
interesting and new (to my ears anyway) stuff with a subtly different
vibe (on FY5 Mike Batt's, of Wombles fames, "Wendy") that is often
overlooked as if good music stopped after 1969, and I hope that if
there are future Ripples, that you continue in this vein!
Chris
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:05:19 -0400
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: The Paris Sisters pre-Spector Nasties
Where can I find some details on the seamier side of the Paris Sisters?
I seem to remember reading somewhere that they started as little girls
dressed up like big girls, kind of a Jon Benet thing. I would really
like to read up on this. Any help appreciated.
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:23:59 EDT
From: John Berg
Subject: Re: PacWest reissues
Phil, the Norton series compiles a bunch of other sides cut by Kearney
Barton at his studio here in Seattle, same place much of the other
material was cut. The Norton CDs have very little overlap with the
Sundazed, Big Beat and Jerden series. Worth picking up!
JB
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:29:36 EDT
From: John Berg
Subject: Covington, Kentucky / Ralph Trotto
Karen, did you ever come across white gospel guitarist/singer Ralph
Trotto in your sojourns around the Cincinatti/Covington area? He
lived in Aurora, and was among Lonnie Mack's early influences
(teaching him some guitar techniques, etc.) I've been able to track
down just a tiny bit of info about Trotto but would love to hear his
music -- I understand he released numerous gospel albums but I've not
found any information online or in used record stores. I suppose guys
like him who mostly worked the church circuits just flew under the
radar of the collectors' scene?
John Berg
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:00:31 -0400
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: Neil Sedaka on Back-up Vocals
Hello to all, and thanks for the fabulous reading.
Ever since hearing Connie Francis singing the Greenwich/Barry song
"Don't Ever Leave Me" (I found it on the very good comp "Growin' Up
Too Fast") and "hearing" Neil Sedaka singing back-up (sometimes I
hear it and sometimes I think it's just Connie sounding like Sedaka),
I wondered whether Neil did ever in fact sing back-ups for other
artists.
Also, is there a Sedaka comp out there which collects only oddball
Brill Building stuff?
Neil Sedaka has fascinated me ever since I saw him perform live when
I was a child. I remember his painted-on moles. Could be a false
memory, but I remember that he painted on different moles after the
break.
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:11:11 -0400
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: Catholic Girl Groups?
The Chantels, Reparata and the Delrons...who else would be Catholic
School girl groups?
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 10:56:02 +0100
From: Various
Subject: Bernard "Pretty" Purdie
For convenience, recent posts on the subject of drummer Bernard
Purdie have been compeniumized:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eddy wrote:
> First of all, it's not so much as claim by Purdie as it is something
> that was printed in Goldmine (issue 344). I have written to Goldmine
> about this at the time, but they never bothered to print my reply.
> Purdie ain't no spring chicken anymore and lord knows how he talks.
> Afaic this means that he could have said any number of things but was
> misunderstood, expressed himself rather poorly, got confused, meant
> one thing and said another, presumed the interview knew what he was
> talking about or whatever. Of course it was good copy to print a story
> like that.
>
> Fact remains that Purdie actually played on a truckload of Beatles
> songs on the Sgt Pepper SOUNDTRACK album (Bee Gees, Frampton, etc). An
> album btw, produced by George Martin, who was called in on the matter,
> didn't remember Pepper himself, so just joined Purdie's lynching mob.
>
> I am not saying this is what went down in that interview, but a little
> research could have prevented everybody making an a$$ out of Purdie.
> He could have easily been given the benefit of the doubt on this imo.
Except that my memory was that Purdie expressed himself rather forcefully
and even arrogantly on the subject (no doubt what you mean by "lord knows
how he talks"), dismissing Ringo entirely as hardly ever having played on
a Beatle recording at all.
Now it's still possible that this slant came out of the original author's
intent to make a bad example out of him, I suppose, but one wonders.
In any case, another line of thinking on this story was that Purdie might
have been called upon to overdub his drumming to fatten up the tracks The
Beatles recorded in Germany in 1961 ("Ain't She Sweet" and the others on
which they backed Tony Sheridan) -- as Pete Best's work was decidedly sub-
par. A comparison of the original releases with their American (1964)
counterparts does show that the dubbing was done...it's just a question of
whether Purdie did it or not, and went from there to make his claims.
I've always wondered if there's a connection between this whole thing and
an incident related by Eric Carmen. He tells of going to New York City to
record a single with a pre-Raspberries band (Sparrow, IIRC) and being
presented with a studio drummer, whom Carmen describes as "a hip spade
dude." Said drummer asked Eric what kind of feel he wanted on the track,
and Carmen replied "Ringo." Eric's after-the-fact assessment of this
drummer's efforts was "You would have laughed to hear what his idea of
'Ringo' was."
Mike McKay
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Brent Cash:
> But, unless this has been discussed before here, what do you think
> of (Bernard Purdie's) claim of playing on some Beatles records?
Preposterous. Bernard Preposterous Purdie.
Who cares what he said he did? I just like to listen to what he
actually did & does.....
Funky Al Kooper
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikey:
> ... I do not think that Purdie was talking about the Sgt Pepper Movie
> Soundtrack... Rather, it is documented that Purdie overdubbed drums
> on the ATCO version of "Aint She Sweet". Also 3 other songs at the
> session, altho not Beatles songs, but Tony Sheridan stuff...
Making a lot of sense to me Mikey! Either way, I was merely speculating
on the Pepper soundtrack because, as you said, it just makes no sense
for Purdie to lie about this. There could have been a hundred reasons
for Purdie to say what he did or didn't, but Goldmine chose to make a
fool of him. That rubbed me the wrong way. Glad to see more expertise
and open-mindedness in here ! :)
Eddy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikey wrote:
> I believe Purdie DID in fact overdub drums on the 21 tracks as he
> says........but I also believe that most of his versions were never
> released. One or two may have slipped out tho. We may never know.
If I recall Purdie's original claim (from the now-infamous Goldmine
interview) about this issue correctly, he acknowledged that he himself
wasn't sure if it was his or Ringo's playing on the release versions of
the songs in question. In other words, he only claimed that he played
the overdub sessions, not that his versions were ever used.
In light of this, it seems to me that a) he deliberately tried to play
in Ringo's style on those sessions (which most good session players, in
most situations, would've done anyway), and b) if he couldn't tell the
difference (listening back, years later, to the release versions), then
Ringo's playing must've been "pretty" good already.
However, does the fact (if indeed it was a fact) of him overdubbing the
parts mean Capitol had access to EMI's multitracks? Otherwise, wouldn't
he just have been doubling the parts that were already down?
--Phil M.
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: John Hartford
Country Paul wrote:
> John Hartford was indeed a mega-talent - and a true gentleman. I'm
> glad to have known him.
John Hartford went too soon. At least he got to do the concert that
followed the success of Oh Brother Where Art Thou (Coming Down From
the Mountain or something like that). His sense of humor (and his
wife's appreciation of it) is best illustrated by the story of his
funeral and the Batman cape. I think it circulated on this chain a
year or so back.
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Message: 16
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 19:18:39 +0000
From: Frank Murphy
Subject: Re: Nina & Frederik and Mikki & Griff
Baroness Nina Von Pallandt gave quite a good performace in the 1971
version of "The Long Goodbye" starring Elliot Gould and directed by
Robert Altman.
According to the All movie Guide:
http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:72904~C
She also had a real life role in exposing Clifford Irving's fake
biography of Howard Hughes.
Also check here for a photo of Mikki and Griff:
http://www.goodmusic.co.uk/PUBLIC/pictures/large/M1268.jpg
FrankM
reflections on northern soul Saturday's two thirty pm:
http://www.radiomagnetic.com or listen to an archive show:
http://www.radiomagnetic.com/archive/rnb.php
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:19:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Animal variations
Recently I made a Cd of my fav Animal tunes. In the process I
discovered two variations of "Boom Boom". I knew about the two
versions of "Outcast". The two rarer versions of "Boom Boom" and
"Outcast" can be found on the Cd "The Rhythm & Blues Collection".
Are there any other variations on Animal tracks that I'm missing?
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 16:08:24 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney demos
Al Kooper:
> There was no reason for Gene to play drums on a recording. Piano and
> to a lesser degree guitar were his forte...
Depends on what you were looking to do. I would never release
something I'd played drums on - guitar and to a lesser extent piano
being my stronger points. Yet I've always done my demos completely
solo, because that was the best representation of what was in my head.
Then I figured it was up to the producer to decide if it could be done
better. If so, then do it. Otherwise, bring in some real musicians and
get the essence of the demo back on take the way it's supposed to be
done.
Joe Nelson
(stopped the madness and gave up on real drums after 1989...)
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Message: 19
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 21:36:55 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Syreeta Wright, R.I.P.
As many S'poppers might be aware, Syreeta first recorded for
Motown as Rita Wright, releasing just one record under that
name, the magnificent Ashford & Simpson-penned opus "I Can't
Give Back The Love I Feel For You", issued on Gordy 7064 in
1967.
In 1968, when Martha Reeves refused to complete the recording
of "I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing" ("I refused
to sing the song because I disagreed with the sentiments of
the lyrics"), young Rita was called in by Holland/Dozier/
Holland to sing the offending words. Listen to that Vandellas'
45 and have fun spotting which parts are Martha and which are
Rita.
It is also a fact that Motown employed the lovely Rita to
record guide vocals and demos for their prima donna Diana Ross.
I have just posted to musica a rare example, in the shape of
Rita's pre-Supremes recording of "Love Child". Lend a shell-
like and ponder why Motown have never released this lost gem,
and then join Miss Ross and myself in a very stiff drink, or
ten, in tribute to the recently departed Rita:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Syreeta Wright, R.I.P.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
(wondering if there are S'poppers who don't know what a 45 is)
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Message: 20
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 23:26:56 +0200
From: Christian Steiner
Subject: Appaloosa
Yesterday a friend of mine gave me the 1969 LP from APPALOOSA as
a birthday present. I was blown away by hearing the record for
the first time today, which is produced by Al Kooper. Since Al
is a member of the list I hope he or someone else can shed some
light on the group. As an avid singles collector especially I'm
very interested if the band did release any 45s. Did they make a
further album? Thanks for your help!
Christian from Germany
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Message: 21
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 20:00:10 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: he's certainly "Sir George" in my book
What with so many of the leading '60s British rockers being granted
knighthoods these days, it galls me that such an honor did not also fall
to George Harrison, especially once his illness became known. Although
I'm admittedly ignorant of the politics behind official British honors,
it still seems downright unconscienable (sp?) that such a simple gesture
wasn't offered to someone who'd done so much for the culture, and for so
long, at a time when it may well have given him a bit more peace in his
darkest hour. The only excuse I can think of is that it was indeed
offered him, but, for whatever reason, he declined. Anyone know of the
facts, if any, behind the non-tender of a Sir-hood to George?
--Phil H.
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 17:19:12 -0400
From: Rat Pfink
Subject: Re: Jerden
Previously:
> The second volume was released in 1999, featuring 22 tracks and is
> subtitled "Garage Rock Gems 1963-1967".
Gary Myers:
> John, do you know if that includes the Dynastys ("It's Been A Long,
> Long Time" or "Forever And A Day")?
No, but "Forever & A Day" is on the "Northwest Battle Of The Bands
#4" CD that was recently released on Big Beat:
http://66.232.131.72/cgi-bin/SearchCatNo.asp?strProdID=CDWIKD243
If you're ever looking to find which compilations contain particular
'60s garage tracks check out the online "Searchin' For Shakes"
database: http://www.soybomb.com/garage-comps/
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 20:26:38 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: the Baroness Nina van Pallandt
Dan Hughes wrote:
> Phil asked about Baron and Baroness Nina & Frederik. Here's a one-
> paragraph bio: http://www.hasmick.demon.co.uk/jasmine300/jascd_373.htm
Thanks for the peak behind the curtain of the Nina & Frederik mystery,
Dan. They sure did LOOK like Danish nobility -- the evidence for which
can now be examined in the Photos section.
So it turns out that Nina was Nina van Pallandt, who following her stint
as half of Nina & Frederik, would become an emblem of 1970s weirdness
by embroiling herself in the Clifford Irving/Howard Hughes imbroglio.
Another of her '70s gigs loops, most roundly, into an afterthought found
in Chris Schneider's reply to my comments on Johnny Mercer:
Chris A. Schneider wrote:
> P.S. Loved the "Ball" song on Musica. As long as you're talking about
> Mercer and John Williams ... have you checked out their theme-song for
> the Altman-directed "Long Goodbye"? Wonderful stuff. But not, alas,
> in the sort of film that gains nominations.
A film in the case of which was ... Nina van Pallandt. Fun flick,
highlighted by Sterling Hayden's scenery chewing (and with a cute cameo
by baseball oddball Jim Bouton). To answer Chris' question, though, I'm
afraid I'm not familiar with the soundtrack album. I'll keep a lookout
for it.
What goes around ...,
--Phil M.
--
Ubi dubium ibi libertas:
"Where there is doubt there is freedom."
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Message: 24
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 21:01:29 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Catholic Girl Groups?
Margaret G. Still wrote:
> The Chantels, Reparata and the Delrons...who else would be Catholic
> School girl groups?
I would think that since many of the girl groups came from the major
cities they'd all be either Catholic or Jewish...Except maybe Girls In
The Garage. They could have been suburban hence more WASP inclusion.
At least in the 60's. Maybe.
JB
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Message: 25
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 18:35:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen Andrew
Subject: Re: Summer & Mercer
Phil X Milstein wrote:
> ... Call me a weirdo, but, ever since hearing his mesmerizing co-
> composition (with Harold Arlen) "Summer Wind," for me summer means
> Johnny Mercer.
Is "Summer Wind" one of those beautiful songs recorded by Frank Sinatra?
(and I promise I won't call you a weirdo!). And not to get too much off-
track but since you like Johnny Mercer, did you read the novel, "Midnight
in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt? The book is better than
the movie of same name, of course. But, what I like about the movie was
it was filmed in Savannah.
Karen
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